Teaching Waldorf in the Early Grades: An Interview with Renata Welker (Part 1)
We’re excited to share with you Part 1 of an interview with our Grade 2/3 Teacher, Renata Welker. Renata goes into depth about various aspects of our Waldorf early grades curriculum and shares insights from her long experience as a teacher.
How did you Become a Waldorf Teacher, and What Excites you About Teaching in the Early Grades?
“What gets me excited is to welcome these young children out of their early Childhood experience and bring them into the grade school and introduce the fundamentals of reading and writing and math. It’s such a wonderful experience to see these children open up to new concepts and then begin to apply the concepts. ”
“It’s especially nice to use the vehicle of story and movement. Trying to reach them in many different ways to facilitate their learning, and connection with the world and each other.”
What is the Role of Movement and Free Play in the Waldorf Early Grades?
“Movement and free play are integral parts of the Waldorf curriculum. It is certainly the case that the children come wanting and needing to move. ”
“At the start of the Main Lesson, we do a concentrated session of a variety of movement expectations that facilitates the children coming into their bodies and using their bodies in ways that will help them in their learning. Both gross motor and fine motor activities that facilitate the ability to then do the academic work. ”
“The imaginative play aspect is important, and health giving.”
“I’m often in awe of what I see on the playground. The social working and weaving is an important aspect for child development in learning how to be with others, in community, giving and taking, and in general working through sometimes some social challenge to hone who you are and who this group is. ”
What Distinguishes the Approach in the Early Grades from the Traditional Approach to Education?
“I came to Waldorf from a Public School background, so I can speak as somebody who came through the public system. Often what is brought does not necessarily have a relationship to who the child is and what the child needs. ”
“Trying to bring the concepts in an artistic and, ideally, in an imaginative picture fashion connects the child more deeply to these concepts around reading and writing and in math.”
“[Bringing] these concepts through story and experiential work makes it go in in a deeper way and in a fuller way. ”
The Focus on Child Development in Waldorf Education
“The beauty of Waldorf is that who the child is at each age is recognized. In the younger grades it is really important that this developmental stage from early childhood into 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade is honored. These children are very much wanting to connect to the world through the feeling life, and they are very deeply connected to the world around them, and to each other. ”
Sparking a Love of Learning and Reading
“At all times, the love the written word and of story is given to these children on a daily basis. In presenting the phonics work and in presenting the work with the letters, there is a tremendous amount of joy and discovery that is had by all. ”
We hope you enjoyed listening to Renata speak about the early grades curriculum. Stay tuned for the 2nd and 3rd part of the interview where she will talk about social emotional development, music, theater, world languages and more!